regimental Glen dicing = metal sporran rim?

[OC Richard]

It's odd how a thread will lead onto other topics, and sometimes I'll think about something or realise something that I haven't before... those "aha!" moments.

The thread about kilt headgear led onto the subject of regimental diced Glens v plain Glens, and suddenly I noticed something I hadn't before.

Well, I had noticed it, but not connected it together.

First some background: From 1809 (when many of the kilted regiments had their kilts taken away and were put into English dress) and 1881 (when pairs of regiments were amalgamated) there were only five kilted regiments in the British Army, the 42nd, 78th, 79th, 92nd, and 93rd Foot.

The 42nd and 79th wore plain Glens, the others diced.

It dawned on me that there existed a correlation between the Glens and the rims of the cantles of the ORs' sporrans: the ORs' cantles of all five regiments were black leather, but those of the 42nd and 79th had matching black leather rims, the other three regiments (the ones with diced Glens) had metal rims. (The cones for the tassels were black leather on the sporrans with black leather rims.)

Here are some photos which more or less clearly show this in practice.

First, ORs of the Black Watch and The Cameron Highlanders (the rims of the sporran cantles may not be all that clear, but at least you can see the plain Glens)





and ORs of the Gordon Highlanders and The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (clearly showing the metal rims and diced Glens)





Now, for a clearer view of the respective sporrans, here they are:









Sorry I don't have images for The Seaforth Highlanders to hand (see post below to see Seaforth Highlanders photos).

I haven't a clue WHY this correlation existed, but exist it did.